"He had a girlfriend who I met once. He wasn't the tidiest person, but he was a good tenant.

"His girlfriend was a nurse I think, she was a long term girlfriend. I don't know where he has moved on to.

"He was very well spoken and all his references were there and passed. He was very well dressed and that is him pretty much.

"I think that he moved a couple of miles away Limehouse way, that is where he went I think. I actually asked him to leave because I like to refresh the apartment, it is a penthouse, I asked him to move on.

"There was about two times when he was actually behind on his rent, but he always made those payments in due course. I never had any reason to doubt him, I still find it very hard to believe that this has happened."

The "minimalist" 3,000 square foot open plan apartment in the converted poor house is big enough for a 10 bedroom flat, Mr Octave the owner said, and has limestone floors and white walls a "bit like an art gallery"

Mr Octave continued: "It is like a huge loft space, it is three big rooms. That's what the tenants like, there is a lot of space.

"I just heard on the phone that he had been arrested, someone phoned me and told me. He was a very quiet chap. I wouldn't say he was a party type from what I heard. He liked the area, he liked the bars.

"He did travel a lot. He had an African background, but I am not sure where from. He did not have any relatives here. He did say he had to go back to see his parents or folks.